New Delhi: BJP National Vice President Baijayant Jay Panda’s fresh attempt to introduce India’s first proposed law restricting social media access for children under 13 got delayed yet again on Friday as the Lok Sabha got adjourned due to Opposition protests.
Panda’s private members’ Bill titled “The Safeguarding Healthy Environments for Little Digital Natives (SHIELD) Bill 2025” could not be introduced earlier despite being listed in the Lok Sabha for the last three months.
The Bill, which was scheduled for introduction on Friday, focuses on mental health and online safety amid global attempts to ensure child online safety.
The Bill proposes restricted and regulated internet and social media access to children below the age of 13.
In the Winter Session, too, Panda was unable to introduce the Bill due to the scheduled day for private members’ bills being adjourned due to disruptions.
Similar laws have been passed in several countries, such as Australia and are being widely contemplated in many other nations. In India as well, many activists and parent groups have been pushing for restraints on social media access to minors due to the increasing number of documented cases of their detrimental and life-disrupting effects on young minds.
The recent case of three minor girls who committed suicide in Ghaziabad is just the latest example where allegations have been made about the role of unregulated gaming and other social media platforms.
Panda criticised the Opposition for disruptions in Parliament, extending to even blocking private members’ bills.
He called it bizarre behaviour, since the government had nothing to do with these bills, and in fact, many opposition members of Parliament had also been trying to introduce private members’ bills on topics which they wished to advance.
Data shows that disruptions in Parliament cost Rs 2.5 lakh a minute, Rs 1.5 crore per hour, Rs 9 crore per day and up to Rs 57 crore of taxpayers’ money.
Since the Budget Session began on January 28, the Lok Sabha has been given around 30-35 scheduled working hours, of which 20-25 hours have been lost to disruptions. This translates to a notional loss of Rs 30-35 crore in the Lower House.
In the Upper House, 12-15 hours have been lost, translating to a loss of Rs 18-22 crore. Put together, the approximate loss incurred by disruptions in both the Houses combined amounts to a total of Rs 57 crore.
The Opposition on Friday stepped up protests in the Lok Sabha ever since Speaker Om Birla, earlier in the week, ruled against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi reading from the magazine featuring an extract from a yet-to-be-published book by General Naravane (retd), citing Parliamentary rules.
Protests in both Houses, but mainly in the Lok Sabha, led to repeated adjournments of the Lower House on Friday.
(IANS)
